2012 AWSM/APSE Convention

On this page, we are going to post all about the 2012 AWSM and APSE convention. We're putting together some posts and writing furiously so we can share all the knowledge we gained while at the convention.

Here are some highlights from the trip!

Advice from professionals

Some of the biggest names in the industry were present at the convention, and because of that, I knew I wanted to get some advice for college students. I believe what these men and women said was extremely valuable, and I hope you will take advantage of the advice:

"Be as versatile and well-rounded as you can be. If you can do anything, it's harder to get rid of you. It's easier to get hired. It makes you better no matter what position you take. It makes you a better journalist. You know a lot of things, it gives you a better perspective. I think it's also important to be comfortable with cops and courts. Don't shy away from those types of stories. Sports allows you to write about life. You can write about racism, you can write about issues, you can write about anything through the prism of sports. The more well-rounded you are, the better you can do that."-Mary Byrne, Managing editor for USA Today sports

"What we're looking for is passion for journalism. Skillwise, I look for storytelling ability, whether its the outcome of a basketball game and turning that into a mini feature story or telling a story in a different medium. Get all those tools in your toolbox while you're in college. Stay optimistic, stay true to yourself and don't give up. You gotta stick with it."-Don Shelton, Seattle Times sports editor

"I had no idea the opportunities that were available to me in college, things like working on the agate desk, stringing high school football games on Friday night. The way that newspapers are right now with cutting staff and lots of places are short handed right now, I think a lot of places would be really welcoming of a college student who would be willing to work. They probably won't pay a lot, but when I go through applications for the AWSM scholarship program, what really stands out is strong campus media experience, so whether that's your school newspaper, your TV station, your radio station, whatever. Also any other professional experience you can get."-Lindsay Jones, covers the Broncos for the Denver Post

"The thing that I'm always impressed by is people's ability to turn interviews into conversations. Because conversations can become the start of a relationship. I will do a lot of things I have a relationship with. First step is, take an interview and make it a conversation. Take a conversation and make it a relationship. Make a relationship and turn it into stories, news. When I see that, I will run to those people."-Mike Sherman, The Oklahoman sports editor

"When you're picking work samples and clips, pick the stuff you did best. Don't fall into the trap of picking your biggest story. For example, I said this to the Penn State kids in April. Just because you covered part of the mess in November, doesn't mean stood out. You might have stood out more doing a routine midweek feature that was actually really well researched and written. I think that's the big thing. I think they need to have people they trust look at their clips and to have them look for that."-Ben Brigandi, Williamsport Sun-Gazette sports editor